Piece of cake anyone?

I was quite delighted to discover that SanityFound baked me a cake for my birthday! Actually, two! To see them, just visit her blog at www.sanityfound.wordpress.com. First there’s a rather interesting piece on alcohol and impaired speech ability, then scroll down and you’ll get to the cake. I’m glad she warned me about the danger of drinking, as I now know to be especially careful this evening. Wouldn’t want to end up like that cat tomorrow!

There’s nothing like friends and humor to make a birthday special. Thank you!!!

It’s my party!

And I’ll cry if I want to. But not today! Why? Because today is my birthday and I am as happy as a kid can be! I’ve always loved celebrating my birthday. Perhaps because my mother always made a big deal of it. Today I got to thinking about her. Sure, I’ve complained about her and often thought she could have done better, but when I think about what she gave me, it blows me away. I had a lot of freedom. She loves me and has always believed in me. Our house was always an open house. I was free to invite friends over, have parties, and simply be in my room. It really was my home. That became even more clear to me after a disagreement with my husband regarding our daughter’s upcoming 16th birthday. He would prefer that she not have a party here. He is concerned that his beautiful house might get damaged. I never had to think about that.

But back to my birthday, since it’s not my daughter’s turn until next month. I have to work today, so I won’t be actively celebrating. I baked a cake and will take it to work with me this morning. It is my way of thanking my colleagues for their help and support thus far. Early evening I’m on duty for a few more hours, but that’s it. I’m off for the night. A close friend or two might stop by, but no big deal.

Since it’s my birthday, I can do whatever I want. (As long as I don’t get into trouble!) So I’m going to share a song that changed my life. Back then, I was 16 years old. Not just this one song changed my life, but it’s how I found my heroine. It was her first and only hit record, a song she co-wrote with Bruce Springsteen. Thank God she had this hit! Otherwise, I never would have heard about her out there in the boondocks! This is a more recent version, but at the bottom I’ve included the original version.

Since I have no idea how long I’ll be around, or how long it will take me to finish all my projects, let me just enjoy today. I am happy to be alive. Happy to know so many wonderful people. Happy to know true love. Grateful for my family and relatives. Happy to have two wonderful, healthy children, whom I love dearly and who manage to drive me crazy at times, just to keep me on my toes. Happy to have two cats to cuddle. And I have dreams for the future. I’m not finished yet.

Because the Night

take me now baby here as I am
pull me close, try and understand
desire is hunger is the fire I breathe
love is a banquet on which we feed

come on now try and understand
the way I feel when I’m in your hands
take my hand come undercover
they can’t hurt you now,
can’t hurt you now, can’t hurt you now
because the night belongs to lovers
because the night belongs to lust
because the night belongs to lovers
because the night belongs to us

have I doubt when I’m alone
love is a ring, the telephone
love is an angel disguised as lust
here in our bed until the morning comes
come on now try and understand
the way I feel under your command
take my hand as the sun descends
they can’t touch you now,
can’t touch you now, can’t touch you now
because the night belongs to lovers …

with love we sleep
with doubt the vicious circle
turn and burns
without you I cannot live
forgive, the yearning burning
I believe it’s time, too real to feel
so touch me now, touch me now, touch me now
because the night belongs to lovers …

because tonight there are two lovers
if we believe in the night we trust
because tonight there are two lovers …